TRADITIONAL LITERATURE - Mufaro's Beautiful Daughters

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Steptoe, John. 1987. MUFARO’S BEAUTIFUL DAUGHTERS. New York: Lothrop, Lee, & Shepard Books. ISBN 0688040454

PLOT SUMMARY
John Steptoe’s telling of Mufaro’s Beautiful Daughters is based on an African folktale published in 1895. The story is set in Zimbabwe, and Steptoe’s illustrations are inspired by the ruins of an ancient city that was found there. In a Cinderella-like fashion, the tale recounts the story of two sisters, one mean-tempered and the other sensitive and caring. Manyara and Nyasha are the daughters of Mufaro. Both beautiful, Manyara is conceited while Nyasha’s goodness is revealed in her humility and kindness. Manyara treats Nyasha harshly unbeknownst to their father. Despite the cruelty of her sister, Nyasha remains humble and compassionate. Mufaro proudly wishes to take both of his daughters to the nearby kingdom when the king summons the women of the land from which to choose a wife. Selfish Manyara leaves in the middle of the night in order to be the first to meet the king. Through a series of compelling events, the true dreadful nature of Manyara is revealed. On the other hand, Nyasha proves her worth to the king through her deeds, and in an unexpected turn of events, it is she the king chooses to take for a wife.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The story, while a variant of the Cinderella tale, is different enough in its telling that it stands alone as its own distinctive parable. The unique nature is most apparent in Nyasha’s journey. She does not arrive at the throne through the magical powers of something beyond herself, but rather because of herself and the way she chooses to live her life with compassion for others. Even Nyasha’s sister, Manyara, is aware of Nyasha’s good heart: “Because everyone talks about how kind you are, and they praise everything you do.” The beauty of the story lies in one of its most subtle lessons. Even after being treated cruelly by Manyara, Nyasha is still good to her sister and forgives her faults. This lesson of forgiveness is only one of many woven through this tale which also touches on issues such as kindness, selflessness, humility, greed, anger, and love.

Steptoe’s ink and watercolor illustrations help the story come alive on the pages. The use of an intricate crosshatching technique provides a feeling of richness and warmth. The proportions of the human form are perfectly captured. For example, the grandeur of the king standing in his white linen robes, gold band upon his arm, glowing with majesty is truly remarkable. Landscapes, animals, birds, and clothing are all portrayed with equal artistry and intensity. The book’s last two page spread is a magnificent panoramic rendering of the recently wed couple overlooking the kingdom. The luxuriant palette of colors used by Steptoe certainly helps convey the sense of royalty.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Winner of the 1988 Caldecott Honor Medal
* Boston Globe-Horn Book Award for Illustration
* Coretta Scott King Award
* KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Carefully realistic treatment will help make the story immediate and accessible to unsophisticated readers as well as to those who appreciate subtlety. . . .a beautiful book, deserving a permanent place in library collections.”
*SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “This folktale shows the traditional qualities, characterizations, and predictability. A magnificently illustrated book, filled with rich textures and vibrant color, and a story that will satisfy young romantics as well as those with a strong sense of justice.”

CONNECTIONS
*Read other variants of the Cinderella tale and note similarities among the stories. Analyze the different elements of each story including name, family structure, theme, symbolism, etc. Discuss how some of these elements are rooted in various ethnic traditions.
* Have students participate in the on-line collaborative program called “The Cinderella Project”. This project allows students to complete and share seven different activities relating to the Cinderella story including surveys, charts, collages, quizzes, and even a writing activity where they rewrite the tale according to the culture and customs of their current lives. The project can be found at: http://www.epals.com/projects/cinderella/
*Other children’s book variants of the Cinderella tale:
1) Martin, Rafe. THE ROUGH-FACE GIRL. ISBN 0698116267
2) Pollock, Penny. THE TURKEY GIRL: A ZUNI CINDERELLA STORY. ISBN 0316713147
3) San Souci, Robert D. CENDRILLON: A CARIBBEAN CINDERELLA. ISBN 0689848889
4) Coburn, Jewell R. DOMITILA: A CINDERELLA TALE FROM THE MEXICAN TRADITION. ISBN 1885008139
5) Louie, Ai-Ling. YEH-SHEN: A CINDERELLA STORY FROM CHINA. ISBN 0698113888
6) Climo, Shirley. THE EGYPTIAN CINDERELLA. ISBN 0064432793
7) de Paola, Tomie. ADELITA. ISBN 0142401870